A short drive from … Carlsbad, California: seen the city? Then head on out for the following attractions - shown with approximate mile distances from city center - Brief Article

Travel America, Jan-Feb, 2002 by Christina Victor

Southern California's Carlsbad is a small town with lots to offer. LEGOLAND California is its premier attraction, with children's rides and amazing structures made of plastic LEGO bricks. Nature lovers should visit Batiquitos Lagoon, a coastal lagoon awash in flora and fauna. From March through early May, admire the acres of brilliant ranunculus blooms at The Flower Fields at Carlsbad Ranch. Carlsbad, known as the "Village by the Sea," has four miles of Pacific coastline, a historic downtown, and a seawall walkway along a scenic bluff.

10 Oceanside, just north of Carlsbad, has a picturesque harbor and pier and is home to historic Mission San Luis Rey, the largest of California's 21 missions; Audubon Nature Center; and the one-of-a-kind California Surf Museum. The Quail Botanical Gardens in Encinitas is Southern California's most expansive, with a wide array of plant life spread across 31 acres.

25 San Diego Wild Animal Park, east of Escondido, is one of the world's premier wildlife preserves. A five-mile monorail tour gives visitors a view of free-roaming animals from around the globe. Fashionable LaJolla is home to the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego and Birch Aquarium at Scripps.

40 Orange County Natural History Museum in Laguna Niguel and Crystal Cove State Park in Laguna Beach offer alternatives to the more traditional Orange County pastimes of shopping and people-watching. San Diego is a quick drive south of Carlsbad. Its must-see attractions are the famous San Diego Zoo and

SeaWorld Adventure Park. Also check out the historic ships at Maritime Museum of San Diego and the vintage buildings of Old Town San Diego. Cabrillo National Monument, on the top of Point Loma, offers panoramic views of San Diego and neighboring Coronado.

60 A taste of Mexico awaits in Tijuana, as hassle-free a border crossing as you will find--most merchants speak English, U.S. currency is accepted, and no passports are required for short visits. The Richard Nixon Library in Yorba Linda is housed in the farmhouse where the president was born. Nearby Buena Park is a treasure trove of family fun, with such attractions as Knott's Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum, and Ripley's Believe It Or Not. And, no visit to Southern California would be complete without a trip to Anaheim's Disneyland and new Disney's California Adventure theme parks.

Contact: Carlsbad Convention & Visitors Bureau (TravelAmerica Magazine), (760) 434-6093, www.carlsbad ca.org; and California Division of Tourism, (800) TO-CALIF, www.visit california.com.